Spiral paper folding device



Jan. 3, 1956 w. M. WEBSTER 2,729,445

SPIRAL PAPER FOLDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR.WILLIAM WEBSTER ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1956 w. M. WEBSTER SPIRAL PAPERFOLDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1952 INVENTOR. WILLIAM M.WEBSTER BY M MM ATTORNEYS SPIRAL PAPER FOLDING DEVICE William M.Webster, Miamisbnrg, Ohio Application November 5, 1952, Serial No.318,777

4 Claims. (CL 270-39) This application relates to a method and apparatusthereof, or otherwise to provide lines of Weakness across the formswhich will subsequently provide the tear lines for separating the forms.It is also common practice to punch holes along the sides of the formseither at the time of printing or in a subsequent operation.

The forms when taken from the press may be wound into a roll, but arepreferably stacked up as a folded pack. Thereafter, in order to make theforms up into form sets, they are interleaved with carbon and againstacked up in the form of folded packs. it

The particular object of the present invention is to pro vide animproved method and apparatus for continuously folding continuous forms,either singly or in sets, in an extremely rapid and efficient manner.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for foldingcontinuous forms which can handle substantially any size and weightform, even extremely thin and easily crumpled papers.

A still further object is the provision of a method and .apparatus forfolding continuous forms into packs; which is positive in operation,thereby forcing the continuous forms into the proper sized pack.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a foldingdevice for fan folding continuous forms which can readily be attached toany device through which the continuous forms are run such as a printeror a perforator.

These and other objects and advantageswill become more apparent uponreferenceto the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed according tomy invention, showing a plurality of continuous forms being interleavedwith carbon sheets and folded into a pack; I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one form which the novel foldingelement according to my invention can take;

Figure 3 is a side elevation drawn more or less diagrammatically ofthefolding elemnt; v

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3 and shows a similar folding element inwhich the folded pack is substantially half the diameter of the foldingelement; I Figure 5 shows a folding element like Figure 4 ar ranged tofold a pack substantially smaller than half the diameter at the largeend of the folding element;

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 4 but element which is cylindrical inoutline;

Figure 7 is a view like Figure 5 but shows a folding element cylindricalin outline;

Figure 8 shows two folding elements arranged side-byside and rotating inthe same direction, with the continuous form to be folded extendingtherebetween so that the form is positively folded in both directions;

Figure 9 is a view like Figure 8, but shows the folding elementsarranged so that one is a right-hand spiral and the other is a left-handspiral, so that the folding elements rotate in opposite directions;

Figure 10 is a plan view looking down on top of an arrangement wherein aplurality of the spiral elements are employed for folding extremely wideforms; and

Figure 11 is an end view looking in from the right side of Figure 10showing the directions of rotation of the spiral folding elements, sothat the' form being folded is in tension transversely and thus has notendency to buckle.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, in Figure 1 shows a folding 1there is illustrated a plurality of racks or supports 10 in which thefolded packs 12 are placed. The folded packs are printed and perforatedand punched along their side edges and may come directly from a printingpress or may be first printed and thereafter punched and perforated on aspecial machine before being placed in the racks 10.

The several continuous forms 12 are to be interleaved with carbon sheetsto form a set of continuous multiple rollers 16, 18, 2t) and 22,arranged according to any desired or suitable pattern, and then passover the pinwheel driving member 24. The pinwheel driving member haspins 26 that register with the punched holes along the sides of thecontinuous forms and the carbon interleaved therewith and a positivedriving of the forms and carbon thus obtains.

A drive motor 28 drives the pinwheel roll 24 at a suitable speed throughthe gear reduction 30.

According to the present invention, the interleaved and aligned formsets pass from pinwheel roll 24 to an elongated spiral element 32 havingone end rotatably supported at 34, and its other end rotatably supportedat 36. The gear means 38 and 40 and chain drive 42 interconnect spiralfolding element 32 with pinwheel roll 24, so that they operate inabsolute synchronism at all times.

The spiral folding element 32, and which is shown in somewhat moredetail in Figures 2 and 3, consists of an element having a spiralworking surface thereon, which surface increases in diameter from leftto right, while at the same time the pitch of the spiral decreases. Thespiral is selected so that the distances between adjacent peaks, suchpeaks being indicated by reference numerals 44 and 46 in Figure 3, arespaced apart a distance not substantially greater than two form lengthsat the point of introduction of the continuous forms to the spiral forthe start of the folding operation, while toward the end of the spiral,the spacing between the adjacent peaks decreases to the point where theforms are thrown into a relatively sharply folded condition, wherebythey will stack up into the pack 48. Pack 48 may advantageously bereceived on a platform 50, or on a conveyor belt, or on any othersuitable receiving means.

Patented Jan. 3, 1956 *3 ment is extremely. important, it may .bedesirable .to provide means for tilting the axis of the spiraldownwardly from a horizontal position, so that there will be a certaingravitational effect tending to deliver the formsdownwardly over thespiral folding element, so that the weakened transverse perforationlines therein will be properly engaged by the working surface of thespiral folding element and be properly folded.

Forzthis purpose, the right end of the spiral folding mechanism may besupported on a bracket means 52 comprising a slot 54 that is slidableover a clamp screw 56 carried'by the stationary frame part 58. Byavailing of this adjustment, the spiral folding element can be tilted toany desired angularity from the horizontal, whereby the device can beaccommodated to forms of different size. It will be understood, ofcourse, that vthe gears 38 could be change gears, or other speed varyingmeans could be provided in the driving connection between pinwheel roll24 and the spiral folding clement, so that'for forms of varying lengths,the desired synchronization of the .spiral folding element with theforms could be obtained.

The spiral folding element is illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 as atwisted wire form, and it could well be thatthe. spiral folding elementwould be manufactured in this particular form. .However, theillustrationsin thezdrawings .would more properly-be considered bytaking the spiral forms indicated to show the envelope or the workingsurface of the spiral folding element, because the said elementcouldcomprise a shaft with a solid metal web extending therefrom, if sodesired, or the spiral folding element could be formed by turning itfrom solid stock. It will, thus, be understood that the representationsin the drawings of the spiral folding elements are intcndedto reveal oneform which the elements can take, as well as to indicate the location ofthe working surface of the several other forms in which the elementcould be constructed.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 show the folding element as a conical spiralwith theform being folded in Figure 4 stacking up in a pack equal tosubstantially half the diameter of the folding element of the large endthereof.

-In Figure 5, the pack which is formed is less than half the diameter ofthe spiral folding element at its large end, and it will be understoodthat the particular size of spiral selected will be determined byindividual choice and the operating conditions desired.

The spiral folding elements illustrated in Figures 6 and Taresubstantially identical with those shown in Figures 4: and 5, exceptthat the Figures 6 and 7 elements are cylindrical 'in outline ratherthan conical. The same folding action is hard in both cases, with theFigure 6 folding. element being'shown forming a pack substantially equalto the radius of the folding element, While in Figure 7 the pack beingformed is substantially less than the radius of .the folding element.

tis to be noted that the arrangements of Figures 3, 5 and 7 permit thefolding of different form lengths. The limiting factor in anyarrangement would be that the form length should not exceed the radiusof the spiral-at its larger end and the pitch of the spiral at theincoming end should not be substantially greater than two, form lengthsfor the shortest form to be folded. By adjusting these two factors, aspiral can be constructed which will handle a plurality of form lengths.

Turning now. to Figures 8 and 9, there is illustrated thereinarrangements whereby the form set being folded is' engaged on oppositesides so that every fold formed inPthe set is formed positively, ratherthan the one fold out ofevery two being formed by gravity, as in thecase of the previous modifications.

In Figure 8 there are two spiral conical folding elements 60and:62-whichare both right-hand spirals, and which,-..ther'efore, both rotatein thesame direction of rotation. It will be evident that the spiral foldingele- 4 ments.wil1\ove:lap,-..so that the form. .64 being fedtherethrough will be forced into the proper folded condition to form thepack 66.

In Figure 9 the conical spiral folding elements 68 and 70 are formed sothat one is a right-hand spiral and the other is a left-hand spiral, andthe elements therefore rotate in opposite directions, while in all otherrespects the same operating cycle is had that was described in have novtendency -to-be buckled and crumple.

connection with'Figure 8. It will be evident that for the positivefolding of forms in the manner illustrated and described for Figures 8and 9, different sizes of forms could be handled by one-and the sameset-up spirals by adjusting the lateral distance therebetween with thelimitation existing that the largest form to be folded could not exceedthe maximum radius of the folding elements.

In certain instances the forms to be folded are extremely wide, and itmay be desirable in such a case to engagethe formsnat a plurality ofpoints across their width, so .thatauniform folding action will be had.For thiszpurpose, thezarrangement of Figures 10 and ll may be utilized,and wherein there is illustrated a first pair of foldingelements 72 and74 that run together in the manner Of'glhfi folding elements in Figure8, and a second Pairof folding elements 76 and 78 which run together inthe same manner, but which are of the opposite hand.

Referring Hi0 Figure 10, the continuous form being folded would lie on.top of the folding element and thus 1 be, engageddherebyat four spacedpoints across alternate of. the :foldlines. By selecting the hand of thefolding elements so. that the points thereof which engage theforms-,moveoutwardly toward the adjacent edge of the forms, the formswill be held in tension, and thus will The arrangement; ofFigures 10 and11 is, thus, particularly useful for hiding either extremely wide formsor for foldingformsets consisting of extremely thin, and thus readilycrumpled paper. The Figures 10 and 11 arrangement .can be employed forfolding form sets consisting of-multiple copies, up to eighteen ortwenty, and, therefore, form. setsin which the paper is of almost tissuethinness, or can be employed for folding up even single forms or singlestrips of carbon tissue.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, itis desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope-of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for folding continuous strip means of.paperihavingequally ,spaced successive transverse lines of weaknessesalong its length into a folded pack, means for feeding the paper in thedirection of its length at a predetermined speed, meansconsisting of aspiral-shaped folding element adapted to receive said strip from saidfeeding means and support the same, at spaced intervalstherealong,,said, spiral-shaped element having working surfacesconsisting of slender peaks which are adapted to contact the strip meansat alternate fold lines along the length of said strip and leaving theintermediate portion-ofthe-strip unsupported, said spiral-shaped foldingelement'decreasing'in pitch from the feed-in point of said spiral-shapedelement toward the discharge end thereof,

. means for rotating said element in timed relationship to the: feed-.of said; strip, and said spiral element being adapted. .toengage said;strip means substantially as a point contact at said alternate foldlines whereby said strip means is caused to double upon itself at suchfold lines .and form a folded pack at the discharge end of said foldingelement.

2; In an apparatus .for folding continuous strip means of paper havingequally spaced successive transverse lines of weaknesses along'itslength into a folded pack, means i for feeding the paper at apredetermined speed, means consisting of a spiral' shaped foldingelement adapted to receive saidstr'ipofpaper from said feeding means andsupport the same at spaced intervals therealong, said spiral-shapedfolding element having working surfaces consisting of slender peakswhich are adapted to contact said strip means at alternate fold linesalong the length of the strip and leaving the intermediate portion ofthe strip unsupported, said spiral element decreasing in pitch from thefeed-in point of said spiral-shaped element toward the discharge endthereof, means for rotating said element in timed relationship to thefeed of said strip, and said spiral element being driven in synchronismwith said feeding means and adapted to engage said strip meanssubstantially as a point contact at said alternate fold lines wherebysaid strip means is caused to double upon itself at such lines and forma folded pack at said discharge end of said folding element.

3. In an apparatus for folding long continuous strip means of paperhaving equally spaced successive transverse lines of Weaknesses alongits length into a folded pack, means for feeding said strip of paper ata predetermined speed, and means consisting of a pair of spiralshapedfolding elements adapted to receive said strip therebetween from saidfeeding means and engaging said strip at alternate fold linestherealong, one of said spiral-shaped folding elements engaging onealternate group of alternate fold lines along one side of said strip andthe other folding element engaging another group of alternate fold lineson the other side of the strip, said spiral-shaped folding elementshaving working surfaces consisting of slender peaks which are adapted tocontact the strip means at said alternate fold lines along the length ofsaid strip, said spiral-shaped folding elements having a pitch whichvaries from a maximum at the feedin point to a minimum at the dischargeend thereof, means for rotating said folding elements in timedrelationship to the feed of said strip, said maximum pitch beingsubstantially equal to the distance between said alternate fold lines ofthe strip, and said spiral element being adapted to engage said stripsubstantially as a point contact at said alternate fold lines wherebysaid strip is caused to double upon itself at said fold lines and form afolded pack at said discharge end of said folding element.

4. In an apparatus for folding continuous strip means of paper havingequally spaced successive transverse lines of Weaknesses along itslength into a folded pack, means for feeding said strip of paper at apredetermined speed, means consisting of a spiral-shaped folding elementadapted to receive said strip from said feeding means and support thesame at spaced intervals therealong, said spiral-shaped folding elementhaving working surfaces consisting of slender peaks which are adapted tocontact said strip means at alternate fold lines along the length of thestrip and leaving the intermediate portion of the strip unsupported,said spiral-shaped folding element decreasing in pitch from a maximum atthe feed-in point of said element to a minimum at the discharge endthereof, means for rotating said element in timed relationship to thefeed of said strip means, said maximum pitch being substantially equalto the distance between said alternate fold lines of said strip, andsaid spiral element being adapted to engage said strip substantially asa point contact at said alternate fold lines whereby said strip iscaused to double upon itself at such fold lines and form a folded packat said discharge end of said folding element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,399,098 Winter Dec. 6, 1921 1,791,569 Novick Feb. 10, 1931 1,886,312Stanton Nov. 1, 1932. 1,985,676 Hand Dec. 25, 1934 2,495,994 Ward et a1.Jan. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 604,811 Germany Oct. 29, 1934 627,367Great Britain Aug. 8, 1949

